NON PHOTOSYNTHETIC HARD CORALS

NON PHOTOSYNTHETIC HARD CORALS

Non photosynthetic corals (NPS) are some of the most unique corals you will ever see. They have the most odd shapes, textures, and cryptic behaviors. Their other name, azooxanthelle, suggests that their zooxanthelle is absent. However, studies have found that many of what we thought were azooxanthelle corals do contain some symbiotic algae. NPS corals include of many different types of corals such as soft corals of Alcyonacea (gorgonians, seapens, and soft corals) and Scleractinia (LPS corals). There are also several invertebrates that have the same care as NPS corals for example crinoids, sponges, flame scallops, and tunicates.